|
imnotbob
Apr 20, 2004, 3:01 PM
Post #1 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 5, 2004
Posts: 80
|
A couple of years ago on my very first 'real climb' I had a very difficult time cleaning one of my leader's tri-cams. It sort of left a bad taste in my mouth. As a result, my rack is without tri-cams but I'm rethinking that now.
Any advise? full set? just the smaller 4? buy a cam instead?
|
|
|
|
|
taualum23
Apr 20, 2004, 3:08 PM
Post #2 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 13, 2002
Posts: 2370
|
Buy them. Bottom 4. When they're good, they are really good. When they are all that fits, you will think back and thank me.
|
|
|
|
|
deleted
Deleted
Apr 20, 2004, 3:10 PM
Post #3 of 60
(9092 views)
Shortcut
Registered:
Posts:
|
even from the early days we knew they could be a real bear to clean, so it should not come as a surprise to anyone.
contrary to what some people would have you believe, tricams are great. these are the same people who disparage hexes, which, by the way, also have their place on a well-rounded leader's rack.
having a quiver-full of tricks makes you a more versatile climber than one who, say, only knows how to plug cams.
and, yes, the first four sizes of tricams rock.
|
|
|
|
|
euphoriagtrst
Apr 20, 2004, 3:53 PM
Post #4 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 12, 2004
Posts: 62
|
It seems like the pink and red ones are all I use but I've often wished I had doubles of those two sizes
|
|
|
|
|
missedyno
Apr 20, 2004, 5:11 PM
Post #5 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 21, 2001
Posts: 4465
|
i have the smallest four, and doubles of red and pink. practice placing them in horizontal cracks and pockets - once you start to place them and you see how they go in (so beeeautifully bomber) you'll know how to get 'em out as well.
|
|
|
|
|
fredo
Apr 20, 2004, 7:31 PM
Post #6 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 27, 2002
Posts: 501
|
I love mine. 05.-4. Place them often, depends on how the leader "sets" them as to wether or not they are hard to clean. Ibid mtgeo
|
|
|
|
|
leinosaur
Apr 20, 2004, 7:37 PM
Post #7 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 6, 2003
Posts: 690
|
we got one good and stuck in some sandstone, once; came back with a small sledge, used the handle of it to knock it loose. The physics of 'em's too cool to pass up, though; when I build my rack they're coming right after the nuts; then hexes after the Tri-cams. Passive-aggresive, eh?
|
|
|
|
|
scubasnyder
Apr 20, 2004, 7:41 PM
Post #8 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 3, 2003
Posts: 1639
|
I would definatly get the pink 1
|
|
|
|
|
okieterry
Apr 20, 2004, 7:55 PM
Post #9 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 11, 2002
Posts: 273
|
A couple of years ago I stiffened the slings on my four smallest tricams by duct taping a 2 to 3 inch piece of thin plastic onto the sling. It makes them 10 times easier to place!
To clean, a little tap or push with a nut tool will usually do the trick. When I see one coming up, I usually just grab the nut tool and don't even try to wiggle it out before giving it a little tap back.
|
|
|
|
|
taino
Apr 20, 2004, 7:58 PM
Post #10 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 2, 2003
Posts: 5371
|
In reply to: A couple of years ago I stiffened the slings on my four smallest tricams by duct taping a 2 to 3 inch piece of thin plastic onto the sling. It makes them 10 times easier to place! To clean, a little tap or push with a nut tool will usually do the trick. When I see one coming up, I usually just grab the nut tool and don't even try to wiggle it out before giving it a little tap back.
What - like a small zip-tie? Great idea!
T
|
|
|
|
|
escale
Apr 20, 2004, 8:06 PM
Post #11 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 10, 2003
Posts: 129
|
I love those tricams.
Got two each of the three smallest sizes.
Think that is pink, red, and brown.
They are lightweight and ckewl.
---Escale.
|
|
|
|
|
imnotbob
Apr 20, 2004, 9:56 PM
Post #12 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 5, 2004
Posts: 80
|
okieterry-
clever guy! I'm going to have to check them out next time I see you.
Thanks all - you've convinced me! (your rebate checks from Camp should be in the mail soon!) I'll start with the lower 4 and see how it goes.
|
|
|
|
|
mtselman
Apr 20, 2004, 10:08 PM
Post #13 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 9, 2002
Posts: 134
|
Besides the advantages other people mentioned, I find tri-cams indispensable on my alpine rack. They are much lighter than cams and also feel more solid in some iced-up cracks and pockets if set correctly.
--Misha
|
|
|
|
|
tgreene
Apr 24, 2004, 12:07 PM
Post #14 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 22, 2003
Posts: 7267
|
what is the feeling about the newer WIRED tri-cams..? It seems that they may be easier to place and remove, due to the rigidity of the wires...
|
|
|
|
|
reno
Apr 24, 2004, 12:57 PM
Post #15 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 30, 2001
Posts: 18283
|
For the better part of two years, when I was new to lead climbing trad routes, I didn't have any cams/friends, and used only stoppers/nuts and Tri-Cams. I've got doubles of the first 4, and singles of the next 3, and I wouldn't lead a route without them. I honestly believe they are the best gear when compared ounce-for-ounce and dollar-for-dollar.
The trick to cleaning is to NOT pull on the sling. Get your fingers on either side of the cam, and gently pull out while nudging the tri-cam towards the "stinger" for *easier* removal (still not "easy," per se, but "easier.")
|
|
|
|
|
olympicmtnboy
Apr 24, 2004, 4:06 PM
Post #16 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 4, 2003
Posts: 270
|
Climbed a route down at Smith Rock last week with a stuck pinky (not mine). It's the 5.9 at the back of the combination blocks area where you kind of climb up and then traverse over and down to the anchors. You can just about reach the tri-cam from the anchors and it wiggles alot. One of you tri-cam experts should go claim some booty. ;-)
|
|
|
|
|
paganmonkeyboy
Apr 24, 2004, 5:54 PM
Post #17 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 30, 2003
Posts: 663
|
how many people out there have had the experience of being pumped, fumbling in different nuts with no luck, only to have the little pink tri-cam go in and stick like it was glued there ? i know i've said a thank you to my tri-cams many, many times, and I won't leave the ground without em if I have any questions on the pro on a route...they stick in flares, pods, weird spots nothing else will go...cheap, light, versitile, and highly recommended in the smallest 4 sizes...
|
|
|
|
|
beetleclimb
Apr 24, 2004, 6:27 PM
Post #18 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 17, 2004
Posts: 9
|
okieterry,
can you post a little pik of how you modified your tri-cams? reading it isn't giving me a good enough idea. i need something to help me work with these little things. i don't use them enough because of this common issue.
|
|
|
|
|
andypro
Apr 24, 2004, 8:27 PM
Post #19 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 23, 2003
Posts: 1077
|
In reply to: what is the feeling about the newer WIRED tri-cams..? It seems that they may be easier to place and remove, due to the rigidity of the wires...
The only wired tricams I've ever seen are the really itty bitty titanium ones from Ushba (I think). Is someone making normal or other tricams with wires? If you could post a link or soemthing, it would be quite appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
rhu
Apr 24, 2004, 8:39 PM
Post #20 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 15, 2003
Posts: 242
|
I love them. One of my friends really loves them though. He can get really creative with them. Last week he built this beautiful anchor with 5 perfectly placed tri-cams. It was a real treat to see. Get them.
|
|
|
|
|
skiorclimb
Apr 24, 2004, 10:05 PM
Post #21 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 16, 2003
Posts: 169
|
The only thing I would add, is that the fun dosn't stop with the first four sizes. I have the first 6(some doubles/tripple pink), and am planing to get the whole set.
|
|
|
|
|
oklahoma_climber
Apr 24, 2004, 10:11 PM
Post #22 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 26, 2002
Posts: 204
|
okieterry!!! I havent seen you on the board in forever! glad to see you back in action!
In reply to: A couple of years ago I stiffened the slings on my four smallest tricams by duct taping a 2 to 3 inch piece of thin plastic onto the sling. It makes them 10 times easier to place! To clean, a little tap or push with a nut tool will usually do the trick. When I see one coming up, I usually just grab the nut tool and don't even try to wiggle it out before giving it a little tap back.
A little heads up guys, this climber knows his stuff!!! I learned more in one hour of bouldering with him in a gym than I did the whole first year of my climbing career! A true oklahoma hardman... and before you write any "there's climbing in oklahoma?" responses, have this man show you around for a day!
|
|
|
|
|
petergram
Apr 24, 2004, 11:34 PM
Post #23 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 9, 2004
Posts: 18
|
I used to stiffen the webbing on Tri-Cams, as okieterry suggests. I would use two popsicle sticks, one on either side of the webbing, and then run tape around to hold them in place. Just make sure to have them taped below the metal part so as not to interfere with the rotating head.
I think the first 5 sizes (0.5 - 2.5) are good pieces. I rarely leave the ground without the first 3 sizes, but almost never place any bigger tri-cams. The mammoth sized Tri-cams can be unstable because the pointed side is so narrow.
|
|
|
|
|
kimgraves
Apr 26, 2004, 3:38 AM
Post #25 of 60
(9101 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 13, 2003
Posts: 1186
|
I carry doubles of the first three and singles of the next two. They get used every pitch at the Gunks: once used three on one pitch. They ARE hard to get out however. I try not to set one if I can’t use both hands. That way my second has an easier time.
Best, Kim
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
